A traffic stop Thursday night in Pottawattamie County resulted in the arrest of two people. The Pott. County Sheriff’s Office reports a deputy on patrol in the area of 9th Avenue and Interstate 29 at around 10-p.m., noticed a Buick Century traveling westbound on 9th Avenue before it proceeded onto I-29 southbound. The car was pulled over a short-time later near mile marker 52, and the driver, 19-year old Jazzmaine Ann Coan, of Council Bluffs, was taken into custody for Eluding. Her passenger, 23-year old Brandon Michael Eugene Miedl, of Council Bluffs, was taken into custody and charged with Possession of Contraband (2-grams of marijuana).

And, 26-year old Dennis Michael Colclasure, of Council Bluffs, was arrested a little before 1-a.m. today (Friday), following an investigation into an accident, where his vehicle drove off Highway 6 at 340th Street, and ended-up in snowbank. Colclasure displayed signs of impairment, and was placed under arrest for OWI/1st offense. He was also cited for Driving Without a License.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A report shows Iowa’s largest public employee pension fund has stabilized thanks to solid investment returns but still has $6.8 billion in unfunded liabilities. The Des Moines Register reports that study released Thursday on the Iowa Public Employees’ Retirement System predicts that the system’s long-term unfunded liabilities will likely grow to $7 billion over the next five years.
The study predicts the unfunded liabilities will then begin to gradually decline and fully disappear by 2046.

Brent Banister is the chief pension actuary at Cavanaugh Macdonald Consulting, LLC, which prepared the report. He says there’s no concern that the system’s retirees won’t get their pension checks. The pension fund has 360,000 members, including current, former and retired employees of state government, cities, counties, school districts and other government agencies.

(IA News Service) DES MOINES, Iowa – The holiday season is ramping up, and while most people look forward to festivities with friends and family, for others this time of year can worsen stress, sadness and depression. Some people have increased anxiety due to travel obligations, or the expenses of gift-giving. Others neglect self-care trying to make the holidays special for family or loved ones. There is no evidence that the suicide rate spikes at Christmas, but suicides have dramatically increased in the U.S.. And Dennis Gillan, a mental-health and suicide-prevention advocate who lost two brothers to suicide, says each person needs coping mechanisms to help maintain their holiday equilibrium.

“Let’s get comfortable talking about mental health, so we don’t have this increase,” says Gillan. “And then, too, if you’ve been down this road take care of yourself – self-care is not selfish.” According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suicide is now the 10th-leading cause of death nationwide, and the second-leading cause for people ages 15 to 34. Since 1999, Iowa’s suicide rate has increased by 21 percent. Matt Wray, associate professor of sociology at Temple University, has studied why suicide rates are higher in the American West than other parts of the U.S.. He says people thrive on strong friendships and family relationships, and too much solitude at any time of year can bring on feelings of despair.

“Social isolation,” says Wray. “And I’m not talking here about loneliness, although loneliness can be a factor in suicide, but more about geographic and social disconnectedness.” Mental health experts say for people who struggle during the holidays, this is not the time to cancel therapy sessions. And to reach the Suicide Prevention Lifeline, call 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A state court judge will hear arguments in a legal challenge to Iowa’s fetal heartbeat law, an abortion bill considered one of the strictest in the country. The law signed by Gov. Kim Reynolds in May would prohibit most abortions once a fetal heartbeat is detected, typically around six weeks of pregnancy. The law was to take effect in July 1, but a legal challenge by abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood and the Emma Goldman Clinic, halted its implementation.

The abortion providers and the American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa are asking Judge Michael Huppert to declare the law unconstitutional and end the case without a trial in what is called a summary judgment. A hearing will be held Friday. The attorney for Reynolds and the state says there are many disputed issues that must be heard at trial.

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa – Dec. 7, 2018 – Ryan and Alle Bailey of Ringgold County have been named Iowa Farm Bureau Federation’s (IFBF) 2018 Young Farmer Achievement Award winners at this year’s IFBF “Century Strong” 100th annual meeting in Des Moines, Dec. 3-5.  The award honors Iowa farmers between the ages of 18 and 35 who demonstrate outstanding management ability on their family farms and have a positive presence in both Farm Bureau activities and their local community.

As fifth generation farmers raising grain and cattle, the Baileys agree there’s no better place to grow up than on an Iowa farm. Because Ryan says legacy is very important to him, he and Alle have continuously worked to improve their family farm by converting old buildings on their land into areas where their cattle can have access to feed, seek comfort during inclement weather and have a designated place to give individual attention to cattle that need it. By working with nutritionists, veterinarians and with the use of genetics, the Baileys have seen health improvements within their livestock, creating a greater efficiency in getting cattle to market.

On the crop side, the Baileys run their own retail seed business. They offer drone crop scouting and agronomic solutions for their clients. On their own farm, they use precision ag to apply fertilizer where it is needed in the exact amount that is needed. They’ve also planted 50 acres of cover crops with a goal to increase these acres for cattle grazing. Their other goals include increasing their cattle herd size, finding ways to implement additional water quality practices and adopting new technologies for record-keeping. The two are on the Ringgold County Farm Bureau and members of the IFBF Young Farmers. They are also active within the cattle industry, serving various positions with the Iowa Beef Industry Council, county cattlemen and Iowa Cattlemen’s Association. In their community, they are involved in their church and civic groups.

As winner of the Young Farmer Achievement Award, the Baileys will have the option to lease a John Deere G-Series Skid Steer/Compact Track Loader (one year/1500 hours), 5-7 Series Tractor/Loader combo (1 year/300 hours) or take home a 590E Gator (valued at $9,500). They also receive a 90-day no payment, no interest (NPNI) John Deere Financial Certificate up to $5,000, and an all-expense paid trip to the 2019 GROWMARK annual meeting in Chicago. In January, the Baileys will travel to New Orleans where they will represent Iowa in the national Young Farmer Achievement Award competition at the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) Annual Convention.

More State and area news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (5.9MB)

Subscribe: RSS

FORT MADISON, Iowa (AP) — A man has been convicted of leaving the scene after his girlfriend leaped to her death from his car in southeast Iowa. Lee County court records say 29-year-old Damian Hamann was found guilty Wednesday of leaving the scene of a fatal accident. His sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 1. Hamann told investigators that 20-year-old Sadie Alvarado jumped from his car on Aug. 5 in rural Lee County as they were arguing. He says he drove home to Morning Sun but went back later to look for her.

Her body already had been found by a passer-by. An autopsy report shows she suffered blunt force injuries after her leap and had a blood alcohol level of more than twice the legal limit to drive. Alvarado lived in Muscatine.

Officials with the Iowa Dept. of Public Safety report that on November 10th, at around 12:05-p.m., the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office and emergency medical services responded to a 911 call by Todd Mullis at his rural Earlville residence, regarding his wife Amy Mullis. Shortly thereafter, Amy was pronounced dead upon her arrival at Regional Medical Center in Manchester, Iowa.  Todd reported Amy’s death was his unattended. An autopsy was completed by the State Medical Examiner’s Office in Ankeny and the Autopsy Report listed the manner of death as homicide.

The Delaware County Sheriff’s Office initiated an investigation and requested the assistance of the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation. Anyone with information regarding the death of Amy Mullis should contact the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office at (563) 927-3135.

The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:06-a.m. From KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (4.7MB)

Subscribe: RSS

Nearly seven months after Highway 25 south of I-80 in Adair County closed for two separate bridge projects, officials with the Iowa Department of Transportation said Thursday, work on the bridges is finished, and the road is once again open for travel. One of the bridges is over the Middle River, about 1.2 miles south of I-80. The second bridge is over North Turkey Creek, about 4.6 miles south of I-80. Both re-opened Thursday.

The bridge on Highway 71 just south of I-80, also opened Thursday afternoon. Bridge traffic had been down to one-lane, controlled by a stop light for north- and south-bound traffic.